Mayberry Didn't Figure On `Holding Out' In Hospital * The Eagles' Top Pick Was Out With Pneumonia But Expects To Be Back In Pads Today.

July 31, 1996|by TERRY LARIMER, The Morning Call

While it's certainly not unusual for a No. 1 draft pick to miss part of preseason training camp in the National Football League, the problem is usually a contract battle, not a bout with pneumonia.

Eagles top draft pick Jermane Mayberry has ended his medical "holdout" and may even be ready to play Saturday night when the Philadelphia Eagles open their exhibition season in Baltimore against the Ravens, those refugees from Cleveland who will be making their new home debut in Memorial Stadium.

Mayberry spent much of the last week in Thomas Jefferson University Hospital.

"I had walking pneumonia," Mayberry explained.

He had been getting treated for shortness of breath, but X-rays of his lungs caught the reason.

"It was a lot deeper inside my lungs than they thought," said Mayberry, whose 6-foot-4 inch, 335-pound frame can house some lungs of serious depth. "That's why it didn't respond to the medicine they gave me."

The big rookie, who the Eagles had hoped would win a starting job at left guard, said he reported to camp "with a little head cold."

He said he's never had a problem with his health.

"I don't remember the last time I was sick," he stated.

It was a mysterious breathing problem more than anything else that sent Mayberry for medical attention this time.

"I never felt all that bad," Mayberry said. "But my breath was short."

Eagles coach Ray Rhodes said Mayberry probably was able to stay in good physical shape because "he's still been working out in the weight room. He should be fine when he comes back."

Although he didn't dress for practice yesterday, Mayberry got in some running and said, "I feel fine." He said he lost "maybe 10 pounds," something that won't be a problem to overcome.

"Jermane should be back on the field (today)," Rhodes said. "We'll ease him into it."

Rhodes said it was probably tough for a young man to come to a strange city, get sick and wind up in the hospital. "I'm sure he was scared," Rhodes said.

"I looked to my family," Mayberry admitted, indicating he'd called his folks back in Texas for support.

How much of a setback was it for him as a player?

"Being a rookie, I couldn't tell you," Mayberry said. "I was just getting in a rhythm."

He said his hospital stay was total boredom which he tried to alleviate by "just going over my plays and stuff."

He said if he has fallen behind, "I'm just going to work hard and try to close that gap."

Mayberry played his college football at Texas A&M-Kingsville, which was known as Texas A&I back when former Eagle running back Heath Sherman played there. Mayberry admitted it's been a big leap for him from NCAA Division II football to the NFL.

"I've learned more football in the last two weeks than in my whole college career." he noted.

In the next few weeks, his head may continue spinning as he tries to learn everything he can in order to win his job back at left guard.

But at least if he gets dizzy this time, he'll know the causes aren't medical.